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Global economic crisis may force Russia, Ukraine to take rigid economic steps

The Russian prime minister said that such decisions shouldn’t be unilateral

KIEV, June 27 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that global economic crisis would force Russia and Ukraine to make rigid economic decisions.

“We are not facing an easy economic future at the moment. We will have to make decisions, which may sometimes be tough and rigid, emergency decisions to support our economies,” Medvedev said at a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Wednesday. The Russian prime minister said that such decisions shouldn’t be unilateral and should preferably be made in concurrence and harmony with common approaches.

For his part, Yanukovich agreed that coordination of bilateral actions was necessary.

“Given the complex situation in the world and the ongoing economic crisis, it’s important to know your opinion and it’s important to have an opportunity to coordinate our efforts to minimize problems which the economies of our countries may face,” Yanukovich said.

He also added that Ukraine and Russia were strategic partners and should, therefore, think over joint decisions related to the integration of the two countries’ economies.

“The growth of the economy and budget revenues will depend exactly on how well we will be able to coordinate this work,” Yanukovich stressed.

Both Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich intend t discuss gas issues at their meeting in Kiev on Wednesday.

“Today, it’s important to sustain progress in those areas of cooperation which we discussed at the presidential and governmental levels. They include technological cooperation and the creation of new productions as well as more complicated issues of energy cooperation, including the gas theme. I am sure that we are going to talk about it today. Naturally, I am going to continue the discussion with Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov,” Medvedev said at the start of his talks with Yanukovich.

For his part, Yanukovich also described the gas theme as one of the key items on the agenda. “I would like to have a substantial discussion of the issues that are extremely sensitive to us. First of all, it’s our trade and economic relations. Honestly, the gas problem certainly continues to be a source of serious concern for me,” the Ukrainian president said.

He hopes that many of these problems will find a solution during Medvedev’s visit to Kiev.

“As far as I understand the Russian prime minister has arrived to bring his verdict on issues that we are planning to submit to the inter-governmental commission. You know my stance and I am confident that that we will make progress in all spheres,” Yanukovich emphasized.